PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF SATELLITES – MOTOROLA AND SPACE SYSTEM LORAL

CLIENT

A joint venture between two major American satellite manufacturers and a foreign space agency that sought to launch commercial satellites into outer space.

ISSUE

Due to the high value of the satellites, importation duties imposed by the government of the launch country would have killed the deal. If the deal were to go forward, Express Trade Capital had to find a way to mitigate import duties/taxes and also cost-effectively transport the satellites to their launch sites.

SOLUTIONS

Express Trade Capital assembled a highly skilled team of legal experts, scientists, and transportation experts that ultimately ensured that these highly sensitive satellites were cost-effectively shipped to their launch sites. First, we successfully argued that sending satellites into space constituted an export, thus allowing us to import the satellites into the country duty free under its temporary importation law. Then we chartered Federal Express cargo planes to transport the satellites into the country where they were already pre-cleared by customs. Finally, we arranged to have the satellites transported from the airport to the launch sites where they were successfully launched into space.